Words like Liebeslied and Liebesleid have been mixed up countless
times because "e" is sometimes pronounced with an "i" sound, and
vice versa. I have a handy method of guessing how to pronounce
the "ei" or the "ie" in words that originated in Europe. Simply
give the pronunciation to the second letter, therefore "leid" is
lyde and "lied" is leed.
A name like Weiner is usually pronounced wine-er and Wiener is
pronounced weener. Stein is styne; there is no such thing as
a Stienway piano which would be pronounced Steenway. Of course,
there are exceptions, and if a Mr. Silverstein pronounces his
name silversteen then don't tell him that he doesn't know how to
pronounce his name.
Randolph Herr
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